Find out how popular the last name Ingersoll is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ingersoll.

Ingersoll, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ingersoll surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ingersoll in America

Ingersoll is the 5449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ingersoll surname appeared 6,388 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Ingersoll.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ingersoll to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Ingersoll

The surname Ingersoll has its origins in England and is derived from the Old English words "Ingeres" and "hyll", meaning "Inger's hill". It is believed to have originated as a place name for a settlement located on a hill belonging to someone named Inger.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Ingersoll can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Ingehillsun". This entry suggests that the name was already established in England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname was recorded as "Ingerissole" and "Ingeressole" in various legal documents and records. These spellings further reinforce the connection to the Old English words that formed the name's origin.

The Ingersoll surname can also be linked to several place names in England, such as Ingersoll in Bedfordshire and Ingersoll in Oxfordshire. These locations likely derived their names from the surname or vice versa, indicating a strong historical presence in those areas.

One notable figure bearing the Ingersoll surname was Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899), an American lawyer, orator, and renowned agnostic thinker. He was known for his passionate defense of free thought and criticism of religious dogma.

Another prominent individual was Ralph Ingersoll (1900-1985), an American publisher and founder of the PM newspaper. He was a vocal advocate for civil liberties and was known for his progressive views on social issues.

In the realm of literature, Robert Ingersoll (1786-1868), an American writer and poet, gained recognition for his works that celebrated nature and explored philosophical themes.

Thomas Ingersoll (1749-1812) was a prominent American lawyer and politician who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and later as a judge in Pennsylvania.

Lastly, Jonathan Ingersoll (1747-1823) was an American lawyer and politician who played a significant role in the American Revolution and served as a member of the Continental Congress.

These examples demonstrate the widespread presence of the Ingersoll surname throughout history, with individuals making notable contributions across various fields, including law, politics, literature, and social advocacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ingersoll

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ingersoll.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ingersoll was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Ingersoll has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ingersoll was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ingersoll, please contact us.

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